Chapter Summaries

Arsenal fought back from two goals down to beat Wigan Athletic 3-2, with Maël scoring twice to break the English top-flight single-season scoring record and earn the nickname “King of Emirates Stadium.” The chapter left Arsenal top of the league as the title race entered its final rounds.

• Mrs. Smith told Emilia that Arsenal might undergo an ownership change after the season, potentially improving the club’s finances.
• Manchester City and Manchester United won their 31st-round matches, leaving Arsenal five and six points ahead of them respectively.
• Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0, though Maël was repeatedly fouled and came off at halftime with a sore shin.
• Wenger kept Maël on the bench against Wigan Athletic after his doctor warned of strain, and Arsenal fell behind 2-0 before Van Persie scored.
• Maël came on at halftime and scored his 35th league goal to break the single-season record, then scored again to lead Arsenal to a 3-2 comeback win.
• Arsenal fans hailed Maël as the King of Emirates Stadium as the team celebrated his record and victory.

Maël broke the Premier League single-season scoring record with his 36th goal as Arsenal beat their opponents 3–2, then celebrated the milestone with fans and Isabella. Arsenal later defeated Stoke City 3–0, with Maël scoring again to reach 37 goals as the title race tightened.

• Maël scored his 36th goal in Arsenal’s 3–2 comeback win, earning Martin Tyler’s praise and setting a new Premier League single-season record.
• Maël promised Arsenal fans an unbeaten league title and a Double, then celebrated the victory and record with Isabella.
• Football fans and commentators praised Maël’s record, while Alan Shearer and Andy Cole accepted that he had surpassed their mark.
• Hans received his Pro-level coaching license and thanked Maël for helping him reach his position as an Arsenal assistant coach.
• Manchester City beat Stoke City 1–0 and Manchester United beat Aston Villa 2–0, leaving Arsenal five points ahead of City and six ahead of United.
• Arsenal beat Stoke City 3–0 as Arteta and Van Persie scored before Maël raised his season tally to 37 goals; Arsenal recorded their 28th win and passed 90 points.

Arsenal beat Chelsea 2–0 to move within reach of the Premier League title after Manchester United lost to Wigan and Manchester City drew with Wolves. Manchester City then beat Manchester United in the derby, leaving Arsenal seven points clear with three matches remaining.

• Manchester United lost 1–0 at home to Wigan Athletic, while Maël finished his endorsement filming and celebrated the result with José.
• Manchester City surrendered a late lead to draw 2–2 with Wolves after Karl Henry scored in stoppage time, prompting Arsenal’s players to celebrate their rivals dropping points.
• Arsenal beat Chelsea 2–0 at the Emirates, with Mertesacker opening the scoring and Maël sealing the win with his 38th league goal.
• Drogba watched Maël’s performance with admiration and reflected on leaving Chelsea for Shenhua Team.
• Manchester City beat Manchester United 1–0 in the derby through Kompany’s header, leaving Arsenal top with 93 points, seven ahead of City.

As Arsenal’s Premier League title decider against Manchester City approached, a Guardian feature credited Maël with transforming the team and famous fans gathered in London for the match. Maël and his teammates entered a packed Emirates Stadium, and the decisive match kicked off with the title still at stake.

• The Guardian published a feature arguing that Maël’s influence had united Arsenal, expanded their tactical options, and helped make them title contenders.
• Arsenal trained in high spirits as Maël joked with Sagna, and Maël later reflected on his future ambitions and desire to win the Premier League and European Cup.
• Celebrities and famous Arsenal supporters arrived in London, while Jones prepared banners depicting Maël’s 38 league goals for the match.
• Maël’s family, Isabella, and Mendes gathered at his home before joining him at Emirates Stadium, where the crowds and ticket prices surged ahead of kickoff.
• Arsenal fans greeted both team buses with chants and taunts, while Nasri and Clichy privately confronted their feelings about leaving Arsenal.
• Maël entered the packed stadium, spotted the banners of his goals, greeted his family with a heart gesture, and took his place as the referee started Arsenal versus Manchester City.

Maël scored twice and assisted Sagna as Arsenal beat Manchester City 3–0 to secure the Premier League title. After the final whistle, Wenger and the Arsenal players celebrated their first league championship in seven years, while Maël finished the season with 40 league goals and 20 assists.

• Maël scored a towering header to put Arsenal ahead, then celebrated with his teammates as the crowd roared.
• Maël assisted Sagna for Arsenal’s second goal, tying Henry’s Premier League single-season assist record and giving him 20 assists.
• Maël struck a volley from outside the box in the 87th minute to make it 3–0 and record his 40th league goal.
• The referee blew the final whistle, and Arsenal celebrated winning the Premier League title as Wenger joined the players on the pitch.
• Nasri and Clichy left the field in tears while Maël, Van Persie, and the Arsenal fans celebrated the championship.

Arsenal celebrated winning the Premier League title as Maël and Wenger shared an emotional triumph, then lifted the trophy together. As the festivities continued, Kroenke outlined his plans for Arsenal and promised Maël special treatment, while Maël ended the night with Isabella and their loved ones, looking ahead to more titles.

• Arsenal's players and fans celebrated the title, and Wenger thanked Maël before the team coaxed him into dancing and drenched him with champagne.
• Greg Dyke presented the Premier League medals, and Van Persie and Maël lifted the Championship Trophy as Arsenal celebrated its coronation.
• Kroenke told Mendes he wanted to build Arsenal into a world-class club and promised Maël top wages, full portrait rights, and special commercial terms in return for his support.
• Wenger placed the trophy's crown on Maël's head, and Maël posed for photos with Van Persie, Isabella, his teammates, and his family.
• Isabella told Maël that his third championship was only the beginning and said she believed he would win them all.

After Arsenal won the Premier League, Maël collected another monthly award and his popularity drove a surge in merchandise and commercial revenue. He prepared for the season’s final matches while the club, Puma, and Football Record planned ways to build on his growing influence.

• Maël accepted the April Best trophy after recording six goals and three assists in five Premier League matches, then said he expected to keep improving and winning more awards.
• Wenger joined Maël during an interview, and photographs of the two celebrating together spread as Arsenal’s title win dominated headlines and drew crowds to the club’s fan shop.
• Hill-Wood reviewed surging shop and Maël shirt sales with Wenger, then proposed expanding their co-branded products and giving Maël a larger profit share.
• Maël and Mendes met Orto, discussed Puma’s bonuses and the upcoming release of Maël’s collaboration shoes, and Maël said he hoped to earn European Cup bonuses next season.
• Maël reviewed Football Record’s subscriber and revenue growth with Peter, agreed to pursue advertising and more programming, and left before Emilia arrived hoping to see him.

Arsenal drew 3–3 with West Brom, preserving their unbeaten league run but leaving their 100-point title bid and perfect finish to the final match. Maël later backed Stan Kroenke in Arsenal’s ownership struggle, while Usmanov’s sale of his shares signaled Kroenke’s imminent takeover.

• Maël scored early against West Brom, but Sean Long and Dorrans put the hosts ahead before Kyle Walker’s deflected shot made it 2–2 at halftime.
• Koscielny gave Arsenal a second-half lead, but Fortuné equalized late, leaving Arsenal with a 3–3 draw and one final match to preserve their unbeaten season and reach 100 points.
• Sean Long exchanged shirts with Maël after the match and encouraged him to keep going, while Arsenal’s players recognized how difficult an unbeaten season would be.
• Usmanov offered Maël a lucrative contract and described his plans for Arsenal, but Maël questioned his vision and later asked Wenger whom he supported; Wenger chose Stan Kroenke.
• Maël’s Fancy Skills advanced to lv2, and he asked Safina to collect photos of his Championship goals so he could commemorate reaching 100 career goals.
• Football Record reported that Kroenke would buy Usmanov’s stake and take control of Arsenal, prompting debate over the takeover and Usmanov’s public farewell.

Arsenal faced Norwich in the Premier League’s final match, needing a win to finish an unbeaten season with 100 points. After Gervinho scored and Norwich equalized, Maël restored Arsenal’s lead with a dazzling dribble and goal just before halftime.

• Real Madrid’s players watched Arsenal’s match as Cristiano Ronaldo admitted feeling pressure from Maël, while Florentino asked Mourinho for a decision about signing Maël.
• Barcelona’s squad also watched the match, and Fabregas struggled with regret over leaving Arsenal and hoped Norwich would defeat them.
• Jones showed his betting slips to friends at a pub, revealing that his 14,500-pound wager could return 254,000 pounds.
• Arsenal and Norwich fans sang Maël’s Song together before the match, and Maël vowed to give his best in the season’s final game.
• Maël attempted a Rainbow Flick against Hoolahan in the 29th minute but fouled him after the move failed to carry the ball far enough.
• Gervinho scored in the 39th minute, Norwich’s Hoolahan equalized from a corner in the 42nd, and Maël used an Elastico to beat defenders and score Arsenal’s second goal in the 44th minute.

Maël scored his 101st career goal as Arsenal beat Norwich 4–1, finishing the Premier League season unbeaten with 100 points and a record 43 league goals from Maël. Arsenal celebrated their historic campaign, while Real Madrid and Barcelona watched and considered Maël’s growing stature.

• Maël scored after dribbling past three Norwich players, becoming the fastest player in football history to reach 100 career goals.
• Deschamps told Mendes he hoped Maël would set winning the European Cup as his target for the French Team.
• Van Persie scored Arsenal’s third goal after Wilshere’s shot struck the crossbar, putting Arsenal 3–1 ahead.
• Norwich coach Neil brought on Steve Morrison and urged his team to keep fighting, but Maël scored a spectacular volley in the 88th minute to make it 4–1.
• Wenger joined Arsenal’s celebrations, and Arteta declared the Northern Expedition a complete success as the team celebrated its unbeaten 100-point season.
• Ronaldo, Mourinho, Florentino, Messi, Guardiola, and Fabregas watched Maël’s performance, and Messi questioned whether Maël’s talent exceeded his own.

Maël celebrated Arsenal’s historic season by winning the Premier League Golden Boot and sweeping all three Best Player awards, then joined the club’s championship parade and festivities. The volume ended with Maël being introduced at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal’s honored eighteen-year-old star.

• Maël received the Premier League Golden Boot for his record-breaking 43 goals, presented by Thierry Henry.
• Maël won Season’s Best Player, FWA Player of the Year, and PFA Player of the Year, completing the three-award sweep.
• Maël joined Arsenal’s champagne-and-cake celebration, while Wenger declared that the team would pursue a longer unbeaten run next season.
• Maël and Josh Kroenke discussed Arsenal’s ambitions as the team paraded the trophies through North London.
• Wenger and Maël posed together with the Premier League Championship Trophy, and Maël promised to keep succeeding with him.
• Maël ran onto the pitch during the final ceremony as the DJ announced his honors and records.

After celebrating Arsenal’s Double, Maël welcomed Isabella into his home and reunited with Gilbert, Joelson, and Gareth Speed at a gathering with family and friends. As he prepared for the European Cup, he secured extensive press access for Football Record and upgraded his Long Shot skill to level 5, leaving him ready to test it on the tournament stage.

• Isabella told Maël she intended to move in, and he agreed as their relationship grew more intimate.
• Peter and Emilia visited to discuss European Cup coverage, and Maël secured full press access and a documentary deal with Deschamps for Football Record.
• Maël hosted family, friends, and colleagues to celebrate, and Gilbert revealed he would return to Arsenal’s First Team next season.
• Maël focused on training, arranged to buy his house, and reviewed the French Team’s European Cup schedule, including its group matches against England, Ukraine, and Sweden.
• Maël upgraded Long Shot to level 5, renamed Tomahawk Cannon, and tested its new power with a shot into the corner.

Maël joined the French Team’s European Cup camp, bought a home in London before departing, and helped reconcile Nasri and Clichy with the Arsenal players. As France prepared for its friendly against Serbia, Deschamps named Maël captain and told him to conceal his long-range shooting from England.

• Maël reviewed his skill progress, added Curled Shot and Cross to his training plan, and bought a London house from Tony Bloom’s representative before flying to Warsaw.
• Maël arrived at the European Cup host city, where Polish fans and media greeted him, while Zidane’s televised analysis backed France and highlighted Maël’s Arsenal connections.
• Maël reunited with Koscielny and Sagna at France’s training camp, and Deschamps began preparations while Maël and Nasri and Clichy gradually resumed cooperating.
• Maël impressed his teammates with a shooting drill, and Deschamps urged him to hide his level-5 Long Shot in the friendly matches so England would be caught off guard.
• Maël offered Nasri and Clichy a truce, and the players agreed to focus on the European Cup together.
• Before France’s June 1 friendly against Serbia, Deschamps ordered the team to test two formations and named Maël captain.

Maël captained France to a 4–0 win over Serbia and scored again in a 6–0 victory over Estonia, building momentum ahead of the European Cup. Puma’s Maël LM7 collaboration boots sold more than 200,000 pairs, while France prepared to open its tournament campaign against England.

• Maël wore the captain’s armband for the first time as France faced Serbia and scored twice in the first half, helping France take a 3–0 lead before the break.
• France’s substitutes added a goal through Malouda to seal a 4–0 victory, and Deschamps gave the team a day off before the European Cup.
• Puma executives celebrated sales of 200,000 Maël LM7 pairs and announced that ten numbered collector’s pairs had sold at auction for a total of £673,000.
• Maël reunited with Isabella in Poland, while the French WAGs teased her about their relationship.
• Maël scored twice against Estonia, and France’s substitutes added three goals to complete a 6–0 win in their final friendly before the European Cup.
• The European Cup began on June 9 as France and England drew closer to their opening group-stage clash.

Maël and the French Team watched the European Cup’s opening matches unfold before preparing for their Group D clash with England. As Maël made his major-tournament debut as France’s young captain, he entered the match convinced his heavy shot would score.

• Maël, Sagna, and Koscielny watched Poland draw 1–1 with Greece after Lewandowski scored, Greece equalized, and both sides missed chances to win.
• Denmark upset the Netherlands, Germany beat Portugal, Spain drew with Italy, and Croatia defeated Ireland as the group-stage results built anticipation for France’s match.
• Maël and the French Team faced England in Warsaw, where managers Deschamps and Pearce kept their tactics secret and Maël became the youngest captain in recorded competitive national-team matches.
• Maël chose the side with the sun behind France, then joined the opening kickoff and focused completely on the match, confident he would score with his lv5 heavy cannon.

Maël scored a stunning long-range goal to put France ahead of England, then helped secure a 2–0 victory after Hugo Lloris saved a penalty and Maël volleyed in the counterattack. France left the match with a memorable European Cup win, while Maël’s tournament debut established him as a major threat.

• Maël headed a dangerous corner toward goal, but Joe Hart saved it and England cleared the rebound.
• Maël blasted a shot from more than thirty meters into the upper corner, giving France a 1–0 lead.
• Pearce brought Gilbert on for the second half, and Gilbert made his National Team Debut before being booked for fouling Maël.
• The referee awarded England a penalty after Welbeck went down, but Lloris saved Gerrard’s shot and blocked Ashley Young’s follow-up.
• Nasri launched a French counterattack and set up Clichy, whose shot hit the post before Maël volleyed the rebound into the net for a 2–0 win.

Maël scored twice as France defeated England 2–0, then scored a spectacular volley against Ukraine to put France ahead near halftime. The chapter ended with France leading Ukraine 1–0 as Maël celebrated his third European Cup goal.

• Maël scored his second goal against England, and France celebrated a 2–0 lead while Gerrard and England struggled to recover.
• France defended its lead, and the final whistle confirmed a 2–0 win that put the team atop Group D.
• Sagna led the French players in singing a new song about Maël, and Deschamps gave the team a day off.
• Maël spent his rest day with Isabella while other European Cup results reshaped the group standings.
• France faced Ukraine in Donetsk, where Maël scored a powerful volley in the 44th minute to give France a 1–0 lead.

Maël led France to a 4–0 win over Ukraine, scoring twice and provoking Shevchenko into a red-card foul and penalty. After the match, news broke that Maël’s market value had reached €105 million, while Arsenal’s value and sponsorship prospects surged.

• France celebrated Maël’s first-half wonder goal before Mene and Nasri scored to make it 3–0 against Ukraine.
• Maël counterattacked after Shevchenko kicked him, then drew a penalty and a red card when Shevchenko fouled him in the box.
• Maël converted the penalty and celebrated France’s 4–0 victory, while Shevchenko left the pitch in distress and reflected on Maël’s achievements.
• Shevchenko learned that Transfermarkt had valued Maël at €105 million, making him the world’s third €100-million player and the youngest to reach that mark.
• News reports highlighted Arsenal’s rising squad and club values and its prospects for major sponsorship deals as Maël’s profile grew.

Maël’s European Cup performances made him a global celebrity and lifted his market value to 105 million euros, while Procter & Gamble considered expanding its partnership with him. After France qualified as Group Leader, Maël and Mendes discussed his rising endorsement fees and why professional recognition mattered more to him than money.

• Maël’s success sent his name trending internationally, and Procter & Gamble’s David Taylor urged Lei Fu Li to deepen the company’s partnership with him.
• Taylor won approval to pursue additional collaborations with Maël, while Lei Fu Li noted that Maël’s Instagram stake had become a concern for Zuckerberg.
• The French Team celebrated Maël’s 105-million-euro valuation and his four goals in two European Cup matches.
• England drew 2–2 with Sweden after Gilbert assisted Welbeck’s equalizer, securing France’s early qualification as Group Leader for the quarterfinals.
• Maël saw that his Twitter and Facebook followers had each exceeded forty million, then learned from Mendes that a sponsored post could command one million pounds.
• Maël told Mendes that he valued recognition because it made him feel alive, leaving Mendes wondering what lay behind his words.

The final group-stage matches sent Greece, the Czech Team, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and Italy into the quarterfinals, while France lost to Sweden after Maël scored a powerful long-range goal and was substituted following a dangerous foul. After Benzema threw down Maël’s captain’s armband and confronted teammate Mexès, Maël and Deschamps agreed that Benzema could not remain with the team, leaving them to face the fallout before the knockout rounds.

• Greece beat Russia and the Czech Team defeated Poland, while Portugal and Germany won their Group B matches and advanced to the quarterfinals.
• Spain beat Croatia to top Group C, Italy secured another quarterfinal place, and Van Persie decided to stay in Poland to support his Arsenal friends.
• Maël scored against Sweden with a long-range shot that burst the ball, then left the match after Olsson’s dangerous tackle cracked his shin guards.
• Sweden scored twice after Maël and Nasri came off, winning 2–1, while Benzema blamed Mexès for an own goal and threw Maël’s captain’s armband to the ground.
• Maël and Deschamps agreed that Benzema’s actions were intolerable and discussed removing him from the team before facing the press together.